Australians haven’t rolled up sleeves for third COVID booster jab

userAugust 6, 2022

State and federal officials are concerned that the number of Australians receiving the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine has plateaued.

To date, 71.4% of eligible Australians, or just over 14.1 million people, have received the third dose.

However, over 5.6 million people have yet to receive their boosters.

Queensland was the lowest state with a boost of 64.5% of eligible residents, while the ACT has the highest coverage (79.9%).

The booster rate is 55% of Aboriginal Australians nationwide.

The new third dose was barely rising each day until New South Wales hit 2075 on Friday and the Northern Territory hit 45.

“The dose rate for the third booster was flat, which is something I am very concerned about,” said Health Minister Mark Butler.

Information campaigns have been rolled out, but the problem of slow comprehension among under-65s persists.

4.22 million Australians have received the fourth dose so far after the program was extended a few weeks ago.

national cabinet

Butler said a long-term plan to deal with the pandemic is being worked on by a national cabinet made up of state and territory leaders and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Ann Ruston, a health spokeswoman for the opposition, told the AAP that the federal government’s response to the current wave of COVID-19 was “worrisome.”

Senator Ruston said: “They have ended a string of aid that has helped Australians through the pandemic and have been forced to backflip disaster payments for pandemic leave.

“The 70 COVID-related telemedicine items, free RATS for Discount Cardholders and Elderly Care Facilities, and Operation COVID Shield all ended without an explanation, clear advice, or a model to back up their decisions. .”

She said the government should publish health advice and models.

The National Cabinet, which is overseeing the response to the pandemic, has scheduled its next meeting on August 31.

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